On August 9, 2008 Father Roy Bourgeois delivered a homily during the Ordination Ceremony of Roman Catholic WomenPriest, Janice Sevre-Duszynska, in Lexington, KY.

Soon after, on October 21, 2008 the Vatican sent a letter to the Maryknoll community stating that Roy Bourgeois, a Maryknoll priest of 36 years, had 30 days to recant his support of women’s ordination or he would be automatically excommunicated.

In response, the Women’s Ordination Conference initiated a campaign titled "Break the Silence. Shatter the Stained Glass Ceiling," with the Association of Roman Catholic Womenpriests , Roman Catholics Womenpriests-USA and Call to Action as partners. The campaign included an online petition, the first of which garnered over 3,700 signatures in less than a week. Before the 30 days were up, WOC sent that petition to Pope Benedict XVI; the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith; Apostolic Nuncio to the U.S., Archbishop Pietro Sambi; and Maryknoll Superior General, John Sivalon.

After thirty days passed, Fr. Bourgeois stood firm in his stance. In his letter to the Vatican in November, 2008, he expressed that he could not recant his belief in women’s ordination. Fr. Bourgeois also wrote to his fellow priests , calling priests everywhere to Break the Silence and address the issue of women’s ordination in homilies, and meetings with the bishops: "Silence is the voice of complicity."

While Roy Bourgeois received a canonical warning to not participate in future ordinations, the Maryknoll community had agreed to opening further conversations on matters social justice issues, including the role of women in the Roman Catholic Church.

On March 29, 2011, Fr. Roy Bourgeois received a canonical warning from the leadership of the Maryknoll Fathers and Brothers. Fr. Roy has been given fifteen days to recant his belief that women, along with men, are called by God to serve as Roman Catholic priests. Failure to recant during thistime period will result in a second canonical warning from his superiors, whereupon, Maryknoll leadership will submit their charge for dismissal to the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith with a request for laicization.

On July 27, 2011, Rev. Edward Dougherty and the Maryknoll Fathers and Brothers issued Fr. Roy’s Second Canonical Warning for the "grave scandal" of continuing to speak publicly for the ordination of women. Fr. Roy faces dismissal from his order and priesthood if he does not recant his beliefs in women’s ordination. Fr. Roy stands firm in his conscience and refuses to recant : "What you are asking me to do in your letter is not possible without betraying my conscience. In essence, you are telling me to lie and say I do not believe that God calls both men and women to the priesthood. This I cannot do, therefore I will not recant."

Aug. 18, 2008: Update on Roy Bourgeois’ meeting with Superiors for participating in ordination of Janice Sevre-Duszynska. The Maryknoll community agreed to opening further conversations on matters social justice issues, including the role of women in the Roman Catholic Church.